Unique Component of
Comprehensive Safety Program Dramatically Reduces Injuries at Utility
Contractors Inc. (UCI): 2008 Comes to a Close with No Recordable or Lost
Time Accidents

Background:

Established in 1950, Wichita-based Utility Contractors, Inc. (UCI) is a
family-owned, general contracting company that specializes in the areas of heavy
and industrial construction.

UCI’s commitment to safety and health is apparent through its Behavioral Health
Program, which targets all of its employees – whether working in the
construction field or within the National Headquarters building. The
organization recognizes that all sites pose different hazards to employee safety
and health, and thus tailors each job worksite to target potential injuries and
illnesses. As of 2007, UCI received Star recognition from OSHA’s premier
recognition Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). Attaining VPP status is
official acknowledgment of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees
who have achieved exemplary safety and health management systems (SHMS). With
over eight million worksites in the United States, less than .008 percent
receives VPP recognition.

Success Impact:

Starting the Day Off Right: Stretching at 7:30 AM is Key to Keeping all
Employees Injury-Free

Since the introduction of UCI’s Behavior Health Program just over 10 years ago,
the organization has seen injuries and illness drop to an almost nonexistent
state. Management believes that much of that reduction has to do with the
incorporation of morning stretches into the workforce’s everyday routine.
Critics, internal and external alike, have approached UCI with questions about
their methodology. UCI President Chuck Grier recalls, "Even people in our
company told us we were nuts and that injuries are an inherent part of this
business. We didn't think that was necessarily the case."

With nearly 40 years in the construction industry, Mr. Grier has seen his fair
share of injuries, illnesses, and deaths occur on-the-job. It was not until the
mid-1990s that it really hit home when a worker was electrocuted as his crane
touched an overhead power line. "We had just had a meeting on electrical
safety," Grier recalled. Talking about safety and health is not enough. Meeting
about safety and health is not enough. There has to be action, a change in the
culture of safety and health in the workplace. UCI has found that Management
Commitment and Employee Involvement (a key element in establishing an effective
SHMS) has proven to be priceless. Management is looking out for employees, and
employees are becoming acutely aware of how to identify unsafe work practices.
This has been a key factor of instilling the morning stretch practice.

The stretching program was established in 2001. UCI had reduced its total
accidents from 22 in 1997 to 10 in 1999, but could not seem to get below 10
accidents per year prior to 2002. Grier and UCI’s Safety Director, Larry
Schmitz, reviewed the trends and found all but one of those injuries had been
muscular-skeletal in nature and occurred before 10 AM. "Guys were jumping out of
the trucks, slapping on a tool belt that could weigh as much as 40 pounds and
going to work," Grier said. "It wasn't hard to figure out what was happening."
Upon being injured, workers would typically begin a physical therapy regimen at
Wichita’s NovaCare. UCI approached NovaCare and requested that a stretching
program be designed to help reduce muscular-skeletal injuries. Since the
implementation of the stretching program, UCI recorded just 16 injuries for the
years 2002-2008.

UCI’s safety program works and is evident by their excellent safety record.
Combined with ongoing training and an outstanding performance record, UCI is
proud to remain a leader in its field. The table below presents UCI’s three-year
DART rate and TCIR as they worked towards attaining VPP recognition.

Injury/Illness Data:

DART

TCIR

Year 1: 2004

0

0

Year 2: 2005

0

0

Year 3: 2006

0

0

BLS Industry National Average (2005)

3.0

5.0

UCI received VPP status in May 2007. The year of 2008 was no different, as the
company completed the entire 12 months with no recordable or lost time
accidents.